Shloka 16
ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग-तदुपलिङ्ग-माहात्म्यवर्णनम्
Narration of the Greatness of the Jyotirliṅga and Associated Liṅgas
यत्रयत्र यदा शंभुर्भक्त्या भक्तैश्च संस्मृतः । तत्रतत्रावतीर्याथ कार्यं कृत्वा स्थितस्तदा
yatrayatra yadā śaṃbhurbhaktyā bhaktaiśca saṃsmṛtaḥ | tatratatrāvatīryātha kāryaṃ kṛtvā sthitastadā
Wherever and whenever Śambhu is remembered by devotees with true devotion, there and then He manifests; having accomplished the needed divine purpose, He abides there accordingly.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, in the Kotirudra context of Jyotirlinga manifestations)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Sthala Purana: Principle behind many sthala-purāṇas: when devotees remember Śambhu with bhakti, he ‘descends’ (avatīrya) and remains after accomplishing a purpose—explaining spontaneous manifestations, self-revealed liṅgas, and localized divine presence narratives.
Significance: Teaches immediacy of access: sincere remembrance can sanctify place into a kṣetra; pilgrimage is complemented by inner bhakti that ‘invites’ presence.
Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya
Type: panchakshara
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva is not distant: sincere Shiva-smaraṇa (remembrance) done with bhakti becomes the immediate cause for His gracious manifestation, by which obstacles are removed and the devotee is guided toward liberation (moksha) under the Lord’s protecting presence.
In the Kotirudra Samhita, Shiva’s ‘descending’ aligns with the Jyotirlinga principle—Shiva willingly becomes accessible in a worshipable form. Remembering Him with devotion supports Saguna-upasana (personal worship), through which the devotee approaches the Supreme who is ultimately beyond form (Nirguna) yet compassionate in form.
A direct takeaway is daily Shiva-smaraṇa through mantra-japa—especially the Panchakshara ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’—along with simple bhakti practices like offering water to the Linga; these cultivate the devotional remembrance described in the verse.